Phar Lap Reunion

Past Event: 16 September 2010 to 30 January 2011

Phar Lap's skeletonSource: Museum VictoriaPhotographer: Heath Warwick

See Phar Lap's skeleton on display next to his hide.

In celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Melbourne Cup, Melbourne Museum is displaying Phar Lap’s hide and skeleton together for the first time in almost 80 years. The skeleton is on loan from Te Papa Tongarewa Museum in Wellington, providing a unique opportunity to view this wonder-horse of the 1930s almost in his entirety.

I remember seeing Phar Lap as a child about the age of 5 when I lived in Melbourne. Back then I thought he was a giant of a horse. This year I took my children to see him. He is still awesome even to Gen Y, and to me. It was very special to see the reunion. Thanks team.

I saw Phar Lap at the Melbourne Museum a couple of years ago and was awestruck by the sheer magnificence of him. He looked so realistic that I almost expected him to turn his stately head and look down at me.

I was horrified to learn that the legendary Phar Lap after his unfortunate death, has been turned into a carny show in a museum. For Gods sake give this magnificent race horse a decent funeral, a State Funeral is worthy of him. Putting him in a glass case in a museum I find highly disrespectful to Phar Lap honour. Phar Lap belongs to all of us, and turning him into a freak show, something to gawk at, lowers is immense dignity and standing all over the world. Bury him where he belongs on Melbourne Rcecourse, near the winning post.

Hello Racegoer - many thanks for the feedback, and we are sorry to hear that Phar Lap's mounted display has horrified you. The decision to mount and donate the hide of Phar Lap to the Museum was that of Phar Lap's owner David Davis in consultation with Harry Telford in 1932. The mounted specimen has been on near-continuous display for over 80 years, and is intended as a respectful tribute to a champion racehorse. You can read more about Phar Lap's post-death history here.

Racegoer from England
20 April, 2015 02:07

By tradition champion racehorses are buried, and your Museum Officials should have refused the donation and gone out of their way to diplomatically suggest to the owner Mr D Davis that Phar Lap should be buried with all honours due to him, and, in an Oak warriors coffin with his name and deeds inscribed thereon. What needs to be said is: Was Phar Lap an horse or a legend, and how should his owners and handlers have acted then. Its not too late to right a wrong. In England a race horse owner called Harry Lane sold the body for dog meat of Teal the 1952 Grand National Winner for £5.00, about $10.00, the outcry lasted for months and Harry Lane was persona-non-gratis (not made welcome) anywhere. Australians are legendary sportsmen worldwide so its letting them down to have its greatest racehorse in a glass case. Are you aware that in England Phar Lap is a legend also? and is listed in the top 10 racehorses of all time.